DJI Introduces 249-Gram Mavic Mini Drone

DJI has introduced the Mavic Mini, a portable drone weighing in at just 249 grams, or roughly .55 lbs.

Mavic Mini builds on DJI’s series of folding Mavic drones, from the original Mavic Pro through Mavic Air and Mavic 2.

“To design a drone as lightweight, compact, yet capable, as Mavic Mini was one of the most challenging projects we’ve ever tackled at DJI,” states Roger Luo, president of DJI. “Distilling top-of-the-line features into a palm-of-your-hand drone is the culmination of years of work, and we are ecstatic to bring a new class of drone to the DJI lineup. Mavic Mini’s long flight time, ultra light weight and high-quality camera makes it DJI’s everyday drone – and most importantly, it’s easy to fly, no matter your experience level with drones.”

According to the company, Mavic Mini is the smallest and lightest DJI drone ever made. It incorporates geofencing to help drone pilots avoid restricted areas; AeroScope remote identification to help protect sensitive locations; built-in altitude limits; and automatic return to the launch point if the drone loses connection to the controller or reaches a critically low battery level.

Mavic Mini is the first DJI drone to weigh below 250 grams. Comparatively, the Mavic Pro and Mavic 2 Pro weigh 734 grams and 907 grams, respectively.

A blog from Brendan Schulman, DJI’s vice president of policy and legal affairs, explains that regulators around the world have come to the conclusion that drones weighing under 250 grams “are virtually harmless.”

“In a fall or a collision, a sub-250g drone is just not going to cause the same kind of damage as a heavier drone,” he writes. “Since they consider sub-250g drones to pose the lowest risks, they have made them subject to fewer restrictions or requirements than their heavier counterparts. The rules differ in each country, but in many places, a sub-250g drone may not require registration, and may also be eligible for more complex operations, such as flying over people.”

Created to be “the drone for everyone,” says DJI, Mavic Mini is simple to operate using the dedicated remote controller. The aircraft offers up to 30 minutes of flight time, and a Wi-Fi transmission signal delivers stable control and an HD live feed. GPS receivers and downward visual sensors detect the ground below Mavic Mini, enabling precise hovering, stable flying, and accurate landing both indoors and out, the company says.

Mavic Mini can capture 2.7K video at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 60 frames per second, or 12-megapixel photographs using the 1/2.3-inch sensor. A three-axis motorized gimbal supports and stabilizes the camera.

Further, the new DJI Fly app is designed to simplify the flying and content capturing experience for pilots of all skill levels. Dedicated tutorials are included to help new pilots learn about flying, and pre-set editing templates can be added to footage. New pilots can choose to fly in Position (P) mode for basic operation, more experienced pilots can unlock more capabilities in Sport (S) mode, and content creators can choose CineSmooth (C) mode to lengthen braking time for smoother shots and more cinematic footage. Pilots can also choose from several pre-programmed flight maneuvers, known as QuickShots. Tap the desired mode, and Mavic Mini will automatically create cinematic content through Rocket, Circle, Dronie and Helix modes.

Mavic Mini will be available for pre-order beginning Oct. 30 at store.dji.com, flagship stores, and authorized retailers and partners. The drone will come in two purchase options: the standard version, which includes Mavic Mini, a remote controller, one battery, extra propellers, and all necessary tools and wires, for $399. The Mavic Mini Fly More Combo, which includes all of the components from the standard version with the addition of a 360° propeller cage, a two-way charging hub, three batteries in total, three sets of extra propellers and a carrying case, is available for $499. Mavic Mini will begin shipping on Nov. 11.